Mission: SELF''s mission is to provide solar power and wireless communications to a quarter of the world''s population living in energy poverty. Acting as a catalyst, SELF provides technical and financial assistance to empower these people to change their lives.

SELF believes that energy is a human right. To meet global challenges such as food and water scarcity, climate change and poverty, SELF is working to assign greater priority to the importance of sustainable energy among international development banks, aid agencies, foundations, and philanthropic individuals, who are committed to improving the health, education, and economic prospects of the world''s poorest citizens.

Target demographics: the one quarter of humanity that lives without electricity

Direct beneficiaries per year: Each new health clinic directly benefits an estimated 10,000 rural villagers. In 2008, SELF electrified 10 health centers in Rwanda and Lesotho. SELF also brought solar electricity and Internet access to three schools in the remote Eastern Cape region of South Africa, benefitting 2,000 children and their families.

Geographic areas served: International

Programs: Seventy percent of people in the developing world have no access to electricity and are completely isolated from the modern world's wealth of resources. In communities with no electricity grid, SELF brings clean, solar power to light their homes, schools and health clinics; pump safe drinking water and irrigate their fields; refrigerate their vaccines; and power their micro-enterprise centers. We also bring wireless Internet to improve the education in their schools and diagnostics in their clinics. Our Solar Integrated Development (SID) model dramatically improves the quality of life for people at the bottom of the pyramid without contributing more greenhouse gases to global warming. Projects are funded with micro-finance. Since our founding in 1990, SELF has launched solar rural electrification projects in 18 countries: China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Solomon Islands, Bhutan, Nigeria, Lesotho, and most recently in Benin, Burundi and Rwanda.

Community Stories

11 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

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A donation to SELF gives way more than once--first, it funds micro-loans to let off-grid clients purchase solar lighting solutions. Second, the solar lighting displaces kerosine lighting whose smoke is toxic, especially to children. Third, the loan can be paid off with the funds saved on kerosine purchase, and afterwards that money is available for other discretionary purchases. And last, the donation translates into carbon offsets at about a ton per $10 donation for the donor.

I have worked with SELF for over two years and it is hands-down the best bang-for-the-buck organization I have ever encountered. From my own interactions with SELF's solar-powered drip irrigation project in northern Benin (http://www.self.org/benin.asp), I have witnessed SELF's ability to dramatically change lives on the ground, and to implement projects in a sustainable and culture-conscious manner. Additionally, on the home-front, SELF keeps expenses low and goes to great lengths to make sure as much money as possible is going to projects that help the world's poor secure energy services, and not to administrative costs.

To save the Humanity,Solar Electric Light as a source of renewable energy while honoring the integrity of indegenous cultures and respect the delicate balance of local and global ecosystem will realise our most desired improved health, education, agriculture, Industry and livelihood.
Solar Electric Light will reduce carbon level in atmosphere simultaneously providing electric energy need of every house in a cost effective manner; including access to clean, disease-free water, producing organic pollution free vegetable (and thus access to pollution-free sustainable food);reading, writing and promote use of computer for education purpose.It will provide renewable energy to boost Agriculture production and productive by making the dead soil alive,besides greening the barren land to supplement crop production.
Solar Energy Light will also open up new vistas for creating livelihood for millions of unemployed both in urban and rural areas.It will support building basic infrastructure especially in villages like street lighting,running of pumps for Agriculture and drinking water purpose and providing power to small scale village industries etc.
It can be termed also as a life-support system contributing both to human peace and ecosystem peace- the ultimate need of the biosphere.

Just seeing, reading and knowing what they do helps motivate me to take my part and be a good citizen of our planet. Not only are they doing the good things to ensure the future, they are reaching out to all the people responsible as well- all inhabitants.

Solar Electric Light Fund is such an inspiring organization to me in that they are working with those in third world countries to not only help the environment, to better their lives, but to send the message of being a responsible earth resident by their example.

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a great nonprofit organization that really cares about changing the world in a positive way, one light bulb at a time! They are really committed to raising awareness of our impact on this planet; and how we can go about making positive changes to reduce our carbon "footprint." All in all, a great organization with some really wonderful people.

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a good nonprofit organization because it allows me to help two causes that I feel strongly about--the environment and people who live in poorly developed countries. SELF encourages us to do things, like using energy efficient light bulbs, that will be better for our environment. They also are working to provide those people living in poverty with a better standard of living.

I am a supporter of SELF because I believe in their mission to provide solar power and wireless communications to a quarter of the world’s population living in energy poverty. Acting as a catalyst, SELF provides technical and financial assistance to empower these people to change their lives.
It is a sustainable way to change the well being and quality of life for those who need it most.

This fantastic organization brings clean, environmentally friendly solar energy to disadvantaged communities to help power schools, health clinics, agricultural projects, and villages in third-world nations around the globe.
I am amazed at what they can do on such a small budget. But, with their dedicated and expert team, they have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
Love their carbon offset program too!
They rock!